Hydraulic release for well bottoms



April 25, 1939.

R. N BEAN HYDRAULIC RELEASE FOR WELL BOTTOMS Filed Sept. 27, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS.

April 1939- R. N. BEAN I 2,155,382

HYDRAULIC RELEASE FOR WELL. BOTTOMS Filed Sept. 27, 1937 4 Sheets-hget 2 W W W W RNBEAN.

INVNTOR ATTORNEYS.

R. N. BEAN 2,155,382

HYDRAULIC RELEASE FOR WELL; BOTTOMS April 25, 1939.

Filed Sept. 27, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 RN. BEAN INVENTOR 6?. 231m; wmilm ATTORN EYS.

Patented Apr. 25, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE 2,155,382. HYDRAULICRELEASE FOR WELL BOTTOMS Ruric N. Bean, Houston, Tex., assignor to Leslie A. Layne, Houston, Tex.

The invention relates to a well bottom assembly which can be lowered into position in the well bore and properly located by, a tool which can be released from the well bottom by the application of hydraulic pressure. v

In completing a well which has been drilled by the rotary method of drilling where the well bore is filled with drilling mud and it is usual to have a pressure present in the productive formation, it is desirable to lower the well botto lessembly, usually including a set shoe, strainer, liner and packer into the well as a unit and to- Wash the well and set. the packerat a single operation or trip into the well with the setting string or flow tubing. I

With the foregoing operation in mind, the present invention has been devised to provide a simple and economical apparatus whereby the washing operation may be performed and the setting string 0 then released from the well bottom so that the packer may thereafter be set. v

It is one of the objects of the invention toprovide a setting tool connected at the base of the well bottom which can be released byhydraulic Another object of the invention is to provide a plug movable by hydraulic pressure to effect release of the setting string from a well bottom.

Still another object of theinvention is to provide a setting tool which is. connected to the well bottom in such a mannerthat it may be released from the well bottom after the well has been washed. i

Still another object of the invention is to provide a combination of devices whereby the washing and setting operation may be carried; on in a well bottom without resorting to. rotation of the setting string.

Other and further objects of the invention'will be readily apparent when the following description is considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: a

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the upper end of the well bottom showing certain of the parts in section. V

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the well bottom as it continues below the part shown in Fig. 1

Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the lower end of the well bottom and. is a continuation below the lower end of Fig. 2. I 1

Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing the construction just after the setting tool has been released.

Fig. 5 is a side elevationof another formfof the base of the well bottom' wherein hydraulic pressure is used to move the wash valveforthe purpose of closing the valve and also. for the purpose of releasing the setting tool, the parts being in position just prior to release.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 5 and shows the wash valve closed and the setting Q. tool released,

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 show transverse sectional views taken on the lines 1-1, 8-8 and 9-.9 of Fig. 5.

When the well is to be completed, the drill bit and drill stem are withdrawn from the well and .9 the casing such as 2 seen in Fig. 1 is then set in the well bore. The lower end of this casing usually terminates above the productive formation and it is then the practice to run the well bot.-.

tom assembly into the well bore as a unit. The

present invention contemplates the lowering of this well bottom assembly into the well bore by means of a setting string which will preferably be a string of tubing through which the pro.-. duction from the well will flow. 39 v The setting operation is accomplished and the setting string then used as the flow tubing because it is permitted to remain in the well bore. In this manner considerable time and expense are saved in completing the Well because it is not necessary to make a complete round trip of re= moving the setting string and inserting the tub-.-

It will be understood that the setting string extends to the surface and will be connected to v the threads 3 in the upper end of the coupling 4 shown at the top of Fig. 1. This coupling 4 has the wash pipe 5 connected to it and this wash pipe extends down through the well botto s w n Fi 2 and Fig. 3 and has 5 a sleeve 1 threaded on to its lower end. This sleeve I in combination with the fingers .8 and the retainer block 9 serve as a setting tool to support the Well bottom assembly indicated gen.- erally at ID. The well bottom assembly is preferably made up of a set shoe l5 which has threaded to it a sleeve l6 which forms part of the shoe.

A back pressure valve I! may be disposed inside of the shoe and a wash valve l9 may be also 4 carried in the upper end of this shoe. A coupling 20 serves to connect the set shoe with the strainer 22 and these parts are assembled in the order named as this apparatus is made up at the surface; Any desired length of strainer 22 may be added depending upon the depth of the productive formation and above this strainer will be blank pipe or liner 24 of a suflicient length to position the packer 25 within the lower end 25 of the casing 2. A packer setting sleeve 2Q,

projects above the packer and may be of any desired length to terminate in the head 29.

While the well bottom is being assembled at the surface, suitable lengths of wash pipe 5 may be assembled at the same time so that the entire well bottom may be supported by the string of tubing which is connected to the threads 3. This assembly is then lowered into the well by adding lengths of tubing. The lowering operation continues until the set shoe [5 rests upon the bottom of the well bore.

The usual practice, however, is to assemble and lower the well bottom and to then lower the wash pipe 5 and tubing into the well bottom and connect the pipe 5 to the upper end of the sleeve 1. The entire assembly is then lowered into the well. An advantage of the present arrangement is due to the fact that if a bridge in the well bore is encountered the entire assembly may be rotated without in any way affecting the arrangement of the parts used in the setting operation.

It is the usual practice to then circulate clear water downwardly through the wash pipe 5 through the openings 30 in the wash valve l9 and the pressure of this water will open the back pressure valve I! so that there will be a circulation of this water upwardly through the well bore to displace the drilling mud. This flow of wash water will move upwardly around the screen and intothe annular space 3| between the packer and the'casing. Naturally some of this water will fiow inwardly through the strainer 22 and upwardly through the assembly into the casing '2.

This washing operation can be continued until thepr'essure on the formation has been reduced the desired amount due to the reduction in the specific gravity of the column of liquid in the well bore, or it may be continued until clear water returns from the'well. In either event when the well has been washed the desired amount, it is then intended that thewash valve [9 shall be closed and the setting string released from its connection at the lower end of the strainer; To accomplish both the release of the setting tool and the closing of the wash valve a plug 40 Willbe deposited in the upper end of the setting string and pumped downwardly by the flow of washing liquid. This plug is formed with a'sealing flange 4| so that it will be carried along inside of the wash pipe 5 and is also provided with a shoulder 42 which is arranged'to abut upon a shoulder 43. v

The retainer block 9 has been positioned be tween the lower end ofthe sleeve I and the inside of the resilient fingers 8, after these fingers have been moved into the'threaded contact 45 inside of the coupling 26, a locking or shear pin 46 having been inserted to normally. hold the block in the. position shown in Fig. 3. It will be understood that the load of the well bottom is transmitted by the threaded connection 45 through the fingers 8 to the wash pipe 5.

It will be noted that the sleeve 1 fits in the depression 41 so as to confine the flow of liquid downwardly through the wash pipe to the inside of the block 9 and in this manner hydraulic pressure can be applied to the plug 40 to provide a sufficient force to shear the pin or pins 46. When the shearing operation occurs the block 9 and the plug 40 will be caused to-move downwardly due to this hydraulic pressure and will assumethe position shown in Fig. 4 so that the block 9 closes the openings-30 in the wash valve 19.. As this b1ock 9 -m'oves downwardly from its position within the lower end of the spring fingers 8, these fingers will snap inwardly to the position shown in- Fig. 4 until they abut against the sleeve 1. This radially inward movement releases the threaded connection 45 so that the setting string is now released from the well bottom. If it is desired to wash the inside of the screen, the washing fluid can now be pumped downwardly through the setting string and it will move upwardly through the chamber 49 so as to wash in the inside of the screen.

Fig. 6 shows the back pressure valve 64 as having an upstanding flange 9| to telescopically receive the skirt 90 of the wash Valve so as to insure a seal. If some obstruction should be about the flange 9|, it could be sheared by the.

skirt 90.

Particular attention is directed to the fact that this releasing operation has been accomplished without any rotation of the parts and that it has only been necessary to lower the well bottom into position, perform the washing operation, introduce the plug 40 and pump it into position to efiect the release.

It is now desirable to set the packer 25 which is best seen in Figs. 1 and 2 and to accomplish this the setting string is raised a'sufiicient amount to carry the setting dogs 50 to an elevation above the head 29. These setting dogs 50 are in the nature offlaring segments whoseupper ends are pivoted beneath the flange 5| on the coupling 52 and whose lower ends are normally urged outwardly by the springs 53.

As the setting string is raised upwardly, these dogs 50 will snap outwardly above. the head 29 and the setting string can then be lowered so that the dogs will abut against the top 54 of the head 29. The weight of the string of tubing can in this manner be applied to the setting sleeve 28 and it can be caused to move downwardly to collapse the packer 25. Packers of this general type are well known in that they are provided with wrappings of canvas 56 which will expand asthe length of the packer is reduced and in this man her a seal will be formed with theinsides urface 51 of the casing 2. The setting string or tubing can now beraised to any desired elevation and if the well will flow voluntarily the upper end of the tubing can be opened to permit such flow, or a swab may be run in through the tubing to initiate thefiow. On the other hand, if the well is to be pumped, the pump can be lowered into the tubing. H

Figs. 5 to 9 inclusive show a slightlydifierent form of the invention where a majority of the parts are the same. In this form, however, the wash valve is indicated at 60 and is of a peculiar configuration to provide stream lined passages 6| which are directed downwardly and the lower end of the wash valve has a conical recess 62 to receive the stem 63 of the back pressure valve 64.

In this form of the invention'the block 9 and the wash valve IQ of Fig. 1 have been combined together as the valve extends upwardly and Youtwardly to include a skirt 66; "The locking or shear pin 61 holds thiswash valve in open .position.

The lower end of the setting string '3 'is seen in Fig.5 and is provided with a coupling or sleeve 69 which has its lower end beveled at 'lflfto fit upon the shoulder on the inside of the upper end of the wash valve 60. The connection betweenthe setting string3 and the well bottom assembly I0 is accomplished by a locking ring 13 These segments are"'mounted-* p a-a ringor wire 15' which has been compressedwhen the ring was fitted intothe positiomshpwm'i Flgi fi sothat the beveled 'face 16 ensue bleak-s will-rest against the enlarged portion I1 fcrm'ed jon the abut the coupling 69 seas to {form a seal with the parts." fAnf enlarged =portion 8 lon ;-the coupling -69 abuts a'gainst the'jupper f side of the With the "parts fassembled as seen in 'Fig. 5', --it is apparent "that there can be "no relative im'Qve ment of the parts and the setting string *3" will becapable'of carrying the load of the well bottom assembly l due to the positioning of this locking ring 13.

The parts will be assembled as described in connection with Fig. 1 and lowered into the well bore. The plug 40 will then be inserted in the setting string and pumped down the same as previously described. When this plug arrives in the wash valve 60 it will cut ofi the ports 6| as seen in Fig. and the hydraulic pressure can then be applied through the setting string to shear the pin or pins 61. The pressure then serves to move the entire wash valve 60 downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 6 and this movement brings the skirt 66 downwardly away from the surface I8 of the locking ring I3. The spring wire will then throw the segments 14 outwardly to separate the shoulders 16 and TI. This outward movement of the locking ring releases the coupling 69 and the setting string from its connection with the well bottom assembly. If desired, a snap lock 83 may be provided in the plug to snap into the recess 84 in the wash valve to insure that the plug will not be displaced due to any pressure from below should the back pressure valve 64 leak.

Fig, '7 shows an interfitting arrangement of the coupling 69 by providing the lugs 86 thereon to fit into the depressions 81 in the flange 19. This connection is provided so that if it is necessary to rotate the set shoe IS in lowering the assembly into the well that such rotation may be effected. In some instances a caving of the well bore has occurred and these cavings must be removed from the well bore by rotating the well bottom and circulating liquid through it.

The setting operation to collapse the packer will be the same with the construction shown in Figs. 5 to 9 as it was in the form shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive.

In some instances a body of clear water is deposited in the well bottom assembly as it is made up and lowered into the well and then sufiicient clear water is introduced into the wash pipe to fill the estimated cavity about the screen. The plug can then be inserted and thereafter mud or other liquid used to force the plug down to its seat. When the plug seats and the pressurev builds up then the operator knows he has clear water both inside and outside of his screen or strainer. The signal thus obtained is of advantage. The method is practiced where it is contemplated that higher pressures are present and where it might be dangerous to remove the colum'n 6f heavier- 'lmid'dromwtne musimtersg th well head fittings ha 'ttaelied henithe fwill clean wash -vaivemaybe-closed: and the' settingf tool released by a single operation and the wll complete'd ier productionby one itrip -into 'the-Well :bore"witha-combination tubingandsettingstring 1. 'A well bottom assembly comprising a.

tingstr-in'g o'fpipe, a setting tool2thereom awash pipe belowrsaid 1 tool, a sewd! -'-"s pring' fingers -Ion the lowerend "of saidi wash pipe, a sleeve within said fingers and normally holding them in expended position,- a set shoe, a threaded connection between 'said}fingers-" airid shoe, a 'strainer o'n said 'sl:id a washwaiveirr said shoe, a pinconnection normally holding said sleeve within said fingers, and a plug to be pumped down said string and into said sleeve toshear said pin and move said sleeve by hydraulic pressure, the movement of said sleeve releasing the threaded connection of said fingers and shoe so that said string may be raised to operate said setting tool,

2. A well bottom assembly comprising a setting string of pipe, a setting tool thereon, a wash pipe below said tool, a set of spring fingers on the lower end of said wash pipe, a sleevewithin said fingers and normally holding them in expanded position, a set shoe, a threaded connection between said fingers and shoe, a strainer on said shoe, a wash valve in said shoe, a pin connection normally holding said sleeve within said fingers, and a plug .to be pumped down said string and into said sleeve to shear said pin and move said sleeve by hydraulic pressure, the movement of said sleeve releasing the threaded connection of said fingers and shoe so that said string may be raised to operate said setting tool, said sleeve being movable to close said wash valve.

3. In a well bottom assembly a set shoe, a wash valve therein comprising a cylindrical body, lateral ports therein, and a sleeve to telescope into said body to cover said ports to close said valve.

4. In a well bottom assembly a set shoe, a wash valve therein comprising a cylindrical body, lateral ports therein, and a plug member to close said ports so that hydraulic pressure applied to said plug effects movement of said valve.

5. In a well bottom assemblya set shoe, a wash valve therein comprising a cylindrical sleeve body, lateral ports therein, a plug member to close said sleeve body so that hydraulic pressure applied to said plugeijfects movement "of said N body, and a to vh release-d said shoe upon movementibf said body.

6. The combination of;.a well bottom including a set shoe, a sleeve therein, a shoulder on said sleeve, a plug to be pumped into position to abut said shoulder and move said sleeve aiid a d.

setting tool connection to be released'fby sleeve. 5

'1. A well bottom, a wash pipe, a'threaded connection between the bottom and saidpipe, and plug means operable by hydraulic pressure to release said connection. I

8. A well bottom, wash pipe, a threaded connectionbetween the bottoniand said pipe, plug means operable by hydrauiicpressure to release saidconnection, and awash :valve insaid bottom tobe closedzbyasaidmeansi' i 9-.--A- well bottomzincluding aset; shoe, strainer, packer and liner, a wash valve in said bottom, a setting stringincludinga setting tool to set said packer, aqwash line to wash-through ,said valve, a; connection between; said 1 line and said bottomgat said shoe, and hydraulically operable means, to plug said washlineandrelease said connection.;;- 1 1; -:f -10.,, A well bottom including a set shoe, strainer, .packer and liner, awash valve in it said bottom, a setting string including a setting tool to set said packer, a wash line towash through said valve, a connection between; said line and said bottomrand hydraulically operable means including a plug movable to release said connection, so that saidtoolmay be raised to set said -pa '1 11. A well bottom including a setvshoe, strainer, packer and liner,- a wash valve in said bottom, a setting string including-a setting tool toset said packena washtllne to wash through said valve, a connection between said line and said bottom, and an hydraulically, operable member movable to release said connection, said means being movableto close said wash valve.

-12. A well bottom including a set shoe, strainer, packer and liner, a wash valve in said bottom, a setting string including a setting tool to set saidpacker, a wash line to wash through said \radially movable spring fingers.

RURIC N. BEAN. 

